By ABC News
Penny Oleksiak — Canada’s most decorated female Olympian — has withdrawn from the upcoming swimming World Aquatics Championships because of a probe into an alleged breach of the anti-doping code under the whereabouts rule.
Elite athletes are obliged to keep anti-doping authorities informed of their whereabouts at all times so random testing can take place.
Oleksiak — who dead-heated for gold in the 100m freestyle at the 2016 Olympics in Rio — announced her withdrawal from the world titles on social media, stressing the issue did not involve any banned substances.
“I wanted to confirm I am involved in a whereabouts case with World Aquatics that’s still in the preliminary stages,” Oleksiak wrote in a statement.
“I want to emphasise that this whereabouts case does not involve any banned substance; it’s about whether I updated my information correctly.
“Out of respect for Swimming Canada, my fellow racers and clean sport, I have decided not to compete at the world championships.
“I am and always have been a clean athlete and will be making no further comment at this time.”
Swimming Canada (SC) also released a statement supporting Oleksiak’s move, saying they believed she was a clean athlete who had made an “administrative mistake”.
“We understand that Penny has been notified that she did not keep her whereabouts information fully up to date,” SC chief executive Suzanne Paulins said.
“She has explained to us that it was inadvertent and that in no way is she involved in the use of banned substances.
“This is a team-first decision, as while she has not been sanctioned at this time, participating at world championships could potentially affect team results if an anti-doping rule violation is determined.”
As well as sharing gold with American Simone Manuel in Rio as a 16-year-old in 2016, Oleksiak has won six other Olympic medals and nine at three World Aquatics Championships.
The world titles take place in Singapore from July 27 to August 3.